A ceremony was held to show off the Helen M. Marshall Learning Center, and attendees took a hard hat tour of the progress in the newly constructed clubhouse.

Boys & Girls Club Chairman-Emeritus Joseph Ferrara presented Marshall with a plaque that will hang in the new learning center. This is in recognition for all of Marshall’s support in the expansion of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens, including donating $4.75 million to the capital campaign.

At the ceremony, Marshall reminisced over her times in the Bronx House as a child, and believes that investing in The Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens is necessary for the children of the community.

“My experience in the Bronx House taught me to get along with others, and taught me wonderful things about life and happiness,” she said.

Carol Simon, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens, is excited about the new expansion, saying that they will be able to reach out to many more kids in the community.

The new learning center will include educational programs like homework help, tutoring, and the new iReady literacy and math programs.

“Basically, we’re enhancing the educational experience for young people,” Simon said. “We can’t just be a local gym and swim organization anymore, we need to work with the local schools and make sure our kids are doing better.”